2010 Conference Information

Photo © Frank Barry.

Registration forms are available here. Advance registration is required for the Friday dinner; walk-ups are welcome on Saturday and Sunday. Please email us in advance to let us know which events you plan on attending. You will have the chance to purchase two limited edition photographs through the print program, one each by Joel Jensen and Frank Barry. Signed copies of Jensen's and Linda Niemann's new book, Railroad Noir will be available while supplies last, or you can reserve a copy with your registration.

Location
As in the past, the conference will be held on the campus of Lake Forest College in Lake Forest, Illinois, 30 miles north of downtown Chicago. Directions and a campus map are available on Lake Forest's home page.

Friday evening: Calvin Durand Hall in the student union complex, no. 16 on the campus map
Saturday: Johnson Science Center, no. 10 on the campus map
Saturday evening: Glen Rowan House, no. 21 on the campus map
Sunday morning: TBD (will be announced on Saturday, but possibly in the Glen Rowan House)

Lodging
A block of rooms for conference attendees will be set up at a nearby hotel. Please check back soon for additional details.

Introduction
An impressive, expanded program is on tap for the Center's eighth “Conversations About Photography” conference April 23-25, 2010, on the campus of co-sponsor and archival partner Lake Forest (Illinois) College. The three-day event features renowned presenters, along with workshops on photography and book-publishing, book sales and signings, a photography exhibition, print sales and social gatherings.

Friday, April 23, 5:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
New in 2010, we will kick off the conference Friday evening with a dinner at the Calvin Durand Hall of Lake Forest College's Mohr Student Center. Ian Kennedy of the Nelson-Atkins Museum will offer a keynote address following the meal; a social hour will preceed the dinner. Meet the presenters and other attendees, and view a photography exhibition by presenter Frank Barry.

Saturday, April 24, 8:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Saturday's schedule of presentations:

8:30, Welcome

8:45, Frank Barry, photos and stories from his travels to remote locations throughout North and Central America in search of working steam locomotives in the 1950s and 60s.

9:45, Alex Ramos, the development of his photography style and the influence of working at the Scott Nichols Gallery in San Francisco.

10:30, Break

10:45, Linda Niemann and Joel Jensen, their new book, Railroad Noir.

11:45, Lunch (Calvin Durand Hall of Lake Forest College's student union complex)

1:00, Updates on the Center for Railroad Photography & Art

1:45, Jeff Brouws, the railroad landscape as archeology through the work of several photographers.

2:30, Break

2:45, Jim Brown, a retrospective on his photography of Canadian railroads.

3:30, Break

3:45, Ted Benson and Tom Taylor, stories and photos from their travels together, particularly throughout California.

5:00, Reception at the Glen Rowan House

The reception, sponsored by Trains and Classic Trains, will include a photography exhibition, book sales and signings, and limited edition print sales.

Sunday, April 25, 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Sunday morning will feature a workshop on composition by David Plowden, followed by a panel discussion led by Jeff Brouws on book publishing.

Prices and Registration
Tickets are available for each day's activities, as well as in package discounts. (Member price / Non-member / Student*)

Saturday presentations and reception: 75 / 85 / 40
Friday dinner: 60 / 75 / 50
Sunday workshops: 40 / 50 /10
Entire weekend: 150 / 190 / 90

* Students are defined as under 25 and enrolled in an educational institution.

Registration forms are available here. Please mail the form, along with your payment, to the Center for Railroad Photography & Art, P.O. Box 259330, Madison, WI 53725-9330.

More Details
Further information will be posted here as it becomes available. Check back soon for lodging details and profiles of the presenters.